Air conditioning apparatus



y 1957 w. ATCHISON 2,797,559

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed novuzs, 1955 5 19, 3 2s as 2;

INVENTOR.

' LEO'NARD" w. ATCHISON H l5 ATTORNEY United States Patent AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Leonard W. Atchisou, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,649 Claims. (Cl. 62-140) 2,797,559 Patented July 2, 1957 becomes excessive because of the addition of the condensate to it, the excess water flows out of this accumulator and is disposed of. Preferably I use this excess water to cool the condenser of the refrigeration system as it performs useful work while it is being disposed of by evaporation. By my arrangement I provide means for collecting and disposing of the cooling coil condensate without the necessity of using any tubing over and above that which is necessary in any event to provide a cooling system.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken 7 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

the invention of Fig. 1 partially in section movesoveri the cooling coil produces a condensate on I the coilwhich must be disposed of. In certain apparatus heretofore known, a trough is provided under each cooling coil from which the condensate is conducted to the refrigerator apparatus where it is sprayed on the" condenser and disposed of by being vaporized. Where such arrangements-are used in a large building however, where many cooling coils are employed, the use of a trough beneath each coil with tubing to conduct the condensate Fig. l is a schematic elevation view of my invention partially in section arranged within a portion of a building; and

Fig. 2 is-a partial elevation View of a modification of arranged within a portion of a building.

Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 the lower portion of a building or house having an upstanding side wall 1. The lower enclosure or room 2 may be a basement or a garage separated from the surrounding earth 3 by concrete slabs 4 and 5. A floor or partition 6 adjoining wall 1 separates the enclosure 2 from the enclosure or room 7 in which the air is to be conditioned. l

' The conditioning apparatus to which the present invention relates comprises a circulating water system including one or more heat exchangers or cooling coils 9 located in the space to be conditioned and a central heat h refl'iggfatioll p a u f p s q i exchanger '26 positioned below and outside the conditioned space; A pump28 is provided to circulate water stantial'amo'unt of tubing. This problem is not so acute when only a few cooling coils are employed but the cost of theadditional tubing with a large number of cooling coils'isexcessive. s

For many reasons, such'asthe need for expensive extra tubinggdisposal of the'condensate, by drawing it outside of'the enclosureis undesirable. p

Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved arrangement for disposing of condensate in a {chilled liquid, air conditioning apparatus, which does not require the use of additional tubing to that already needed in the cooling system.

It is another object of my invention to utilize the primary circulation tubes in a chilled liquid, air conditioning apparatus for condensate removal.

It .is also an object of my invention to utilize the condensate from cooling coils in a chilled liquid, air conditioning apparatus for condenser cooling to increase the capacity of the condenser concurrently with the removal of the condensate from the apparatus.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a condensate removal arrangement which is readily adaptable to remove condensate from a plurality of cooling coils in a chilled liquid, air conditioning apparatus in a simple and eflicient manner without the need of expensive additional tubing.

, In carrying out my invention I provide a cooling coil within each room which is to be cooled. Means, such as .a pump, circulates cooling water through the cooling coil from a remotely located central coil cooled by a central.

conventional refrigeration system. Moisture which has condensed on the cooling coil is collected and added to the water as it circulates through the system. An accumulator is arranged within the liquid circulating system 'andfre'ceivesthe combined cooling water and condciis'ate. When the amount of condensate in the system from heat exchanger 26 to the cooling coils 9 after it has been cooled by a conventional refrigerating system including an evaporator 32. i I

More specifically there is provided a cabinet or enclosure 8 s'uitably supported within the room 7 on the wall 1. A heat exchanger or cooling coil 9 having a plurality of tubes arranged in a zig-zag path is suitably supported within the cabinet. A circulating fan 10 driven by a motor 11 draws the air from within the room 7 through a louvered opening 12 in the cabinet and moves the air over the coil 9 where it is cooled. After being cooled the room air is then discharged outwardly back into the room through a louvered opening 13 in the forward face of the cabinet 8. If it is desired to admit outside air to the cabinet 8, a passage 14 is provided in the rear of the cabinet and a strip 15 suitably attached to the cabinet rear wall engages the window sill 16 to prevent the entrance of outside air into the room below the passage 14. The upper wall of the cabinet 8 also extends rearw-ardly and is so adapted to permit the window sash 17 to be brought down into sealing engagement therewith to prevent outside air entering the room through the window opening. A damper 18 is provided withinthe passage 14 and may be rotated manually or by any appropriate means. to the desired position to control the relative amount of outside air that will enter the room 7 under the action of fan 10.

A liquid accumulating means or trough 19 is positioned beneath the room cooling coil 9 and is suitably supported within the cabinet 8. This trough is arranged to catch water condensed from the warm, moist room air by the coil 9. The coil 9 has an open lower end 20 and discharges the cooling water which circulates through the coil into the trough. The trough 19 is provided with l an overflow discharge tube 21 which communicates with 2,797,559 p q r n the lower portion of my apparatus for returning the cooling fluid and condensate thereto.

Mounted within the lower portion of the wall 1 adjacent the room 2 is a casing 22 open at both ends. This casing which may be of any appropriate form is preferably rectangular and encloses the lower portion of my apparatus. A partition 23 divides the easing into two compartments 24 and 25. Arranged within the compartment 24 of the casing is a heat exchanger or coil 26 which comprises part of my cooling system. The coil 26 is connected at its lower end by tubing 27 to a circulating pump 28 within the compartment 24 which is driven by an electric motor 29 disposed within the other compartment 25. Both the pump 28 and the motor 29 are suitably supportedon the partition 23 and the motor shaft extends through the partition for driving the pump. The circulating pump 28 is connected by tubing 30 to the top of coil 9 to which it pumps the cooling water during the operation of the unit. The motor 29 also drives a propeller fan 31 fixed to the end of its shaft opposite from that of the pump in compartment 25 In order to cool the circulating water in my arrangement, a refrigeration system is also located within the condenser 33. The evaporator and condenser are connected in a series flow relationship in a closed refrigeration system. The entire closed refrigeration system in which they. are connected, is however, not shown since it will be understood that any'of the well-known refrigeration systems may be used. The system, of course, includes a compressor for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 32 and supplying it at a higher pres- The liquid discharged from the open end 20 of the cooling coil is caught by the trough 19. As the cooling coil 9 is cooler than the moist air circulated over this coil, moisture will condense out of this air onto the coil surfaces. This condensate drips from the coil and also collects together with the cooling water in the trough 19. Both the condensate and the cooling liquid therefore flow by gravity through the tube 21- and discharge through the open end 36 into the reservoir 34. From the reservoir lip and falls down into the lower portion of the casing sure to the condenser 33 and an expansion means for expanding the liquified refrigerant as it passes from the con-- denser to the evaporator. The condenser is disposed within the compartment 25 of the casing 22 adjacent the fan 31. As the fan rotates outside air is drawn into the casing and moved over the surfaces of the condenser to cool it. The evaporator 32 is arranged in compartment 24 in heat exchange relationship with the coil 26. Thuswhen the refrigeration system is operating the evaporator 32 cools the water as it is circulated by the pump 28 through the coil 26.

A second liquid accumulator means or reservoir 34 is positioned above the coil 26 and has a drainopening:

35 connected to the top of the coil 26. Tube 21 which, as previously described, conducts both the condensate and cooling water from trough 19 is provided with an open end 36 and discharges the combined liquids into thereservoir 34. An overflow lip 37 is formed on the upper edge of the reservoir 34 and if the water level becomes excessive due to the added condensate it will overflow through this lip into casing 22 and flow into a sump 38' formed in the lower portion of the casing 22. The bottom of the casing is inclined so that the liquid may flow toward-the sump and an opening 39 may be provided in the partition 23 through which the water can flow. By means of a slinger ring 40 mounted on the fan blade 31 water collecting in the sump is picked up and thrown over the condenser coil.33 Where it absorbs heat cooling the condenser and is subsequently evaporated and disposed of. v

In the operation of my cooling system; the cooling medium for the coil 9 within the-room 7 is generally water. This Water is circulated from the lower coil 26 to the upper coil 9- by means. of the circulating pump 28. The water flowing through the coil 26 is cooled by the transfer of heat to the evaporator coil 32 of the refrigeration system arranged within the casing 23. As the cooled water circulates downwardly through the zigzag tubing in the coil 9, the room air, moved over the coil by the fan 10, is cooled. It will be noted here that the damper 18 can be positioned to permit the fan to draw in outsidenair and mix it in the desired proportion with the air from the room 7 entering through louvers 12.

26 and its associated refrigeration system may be located.

22 and runs down the inclined wall through opening 39 into the sump 38. The slinger ring 40 mountedon the fan blade 31 and depending into the sump picks this liquid up from the sump and throws it onto the condenser casing 22 which system includes an evaporator 32 and a in a manner Well known in the art so (that the excess liquid is disposed of and aids in cooling the condenser coil. This evaporative cooling soapplied to the condenser increases its capacity and thereby the capacity of the entire unit.

While I have shown in Fig. 1 only a single cooling unit for cooling one room any, number of these units may be used according to the number of rooms within a building that are to be cooled. The number of cooling units would be limited only by the cooling capacity of the refrigeration system and the temperature at which the rooms are to be kept.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of my invention in which the lower portion of the system of Fig. 1 need not be located below the room cooling coil. Instead, the coil at any position within the building asthere is no need to depend on gravity for circulating the cooling water.

I have indicated [by the same numerals in Fig. 2 those parts which are identical to those in Fig. 1. In the an;

rangement shown, the heat exchanger or coil 26 located on one side of floor 6 is connected at its lower end by tubing 41 to the top of the cooling coil 9 on the other side of the floor. The lower end of coil 9 is connected by tubing 42 to the circulating pump 43 which in turn communicates by tubing 44 with the reservoir or accumulator 34 arranged above the coil 26. Tubing 44 is provided with an open end 45. The drain passage 35 connects this reservoir with coil 26 as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. For purposes which will be explained later the pump 43 is of the positive displacement type which is.

capable of pumping both air and liquid.

In Fig. 2, I have shown only the evaporator 32 of the refrigeration system but it is to be understood that, like the arrangement of Fig. 1, it is part of a closed refriger- I the pump 43 at one end of its shaft also drives the fan 31 at the other end of the shaft which operates in a manner similar to the arrangement of Fig. 1 to cool the condenser (not shown) of the refrigeration system.

A trough 19 is arranged beneath the upper coil. 9 to catch and accumulate condensate dropping from thecoil surfaces. I also provide a section of tubing 46 having an inside diameter somewhat smaller-than tubing 41 and 42 terminating in an open end 47' which depends into the trough 19. This section of tubing 46 isconnected at junction 4to the tubing 42 and serves to drain the condensate from. the trough under the action of pump 43. It will be noted here that the junction 48 is arranged somewhat below the tubing end 47 in order to take advantage of any siphon effect that might be created and assist in draining the trough of condensate.

In the operation of the modification shown in Fig. 2, the pump 43 pulls water from the reservoir 34 through coil 26, through tubing 41, into coil 9, and through tubing 42. The water is then discharged through tubing 44 and tube end 45 into the reservoir 34. As the water passes through the coil 26 it is chilled by the absorption of heat by the evaporator 32. Any condensate which may accumulate in the trough 19 as it drips from the surfaces of the cooling coil 9 is drawn upwardlythrough the open end 47 of tubing 46 by the suction created in pipe 42 under the action of the pump 43. In addition the junction 48 between the tubing 46 and 42 is arranged below the open end 47 so that any siphoning action present would assist in draining the trough 19.

When the pump 43 is not pumping condensate from the trough 19, air will be drawn into the tubing 46 along with the cooling liquid and it is therefore necessary that pump 43 be of the positive displacement type which is capable of pumping both air and liquid.

The additional liquid added to the system by the accumulation of condensate from coil 9 is disposed of through the overflow lip 37 of the reservoir 34 in a manner similar to the embodiment of Fig. l. The refrigeration system and casing with its associated sump is not shown in Fig. 2 but the arrangement is similar to that of Fig. 1 in that the overflow liquid is picked up by slinger rings 40 on the propeller fan 31 from the condensate sump and is thrown over the condenser to cool its surfaces from where it is subsequently evaporated and carried to the outside.

In summation, it will be seen that I have provided an improved arrangement for disposing of the water condensed from the air passing over the surfaces of a cooling coil in a chilled liquid type of air conditioning system. The condensate is caused to accumulate in a reservoir in fluid communication with the main tubes in the system which carry the cooling water. Thus the condensate is added to the cooling water and is transported along with the water to a location in the system where it can be conveniently disposed of while cooling the condenser in the refrigeration apparatus. Thus the condensate not only serves a useful purpose in increasing the capacity of the condenser and system but it is quickly and conveniently disposed of.

If it is desirable not to dispose of the accumulated condensate by condenser cooling and evaporation many other forms of disposal may be employed. For instance, a sewer drain connection could be added to my system and the overflow of water from the reservoir 34 could be directed into the sewer drain.

The most important advantage of this arrangement is that the condensate is disposed of without the need of any additional tubing as my arrangement utilizes the already existing tubing. Since my system may be adapted to accommodate more than a single unit, any number of cooling units may be used limited only by the capacity of the refrigeration system. The cost of additional tubing for disposing of condensate without the use of my inven tion would add excessively to the cost of such a cooling system. A

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the arts that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. And it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A heat transfer system for an enclosure comprising a first heat exchanger within said enclosure, a second heat xchanger arranged below said first heat exchanger,

means for circulating water between said heat exchangers,

means associated with said second heat exchanger for refrigerating said water, first accumulating means arranged below saidfirst heat exchanger to collect and pass together condensate from said first heat exchanger and said circulated water, second accumulating means arranged above and in'fluid communication with said second heat exchanger and receiving said condensate and water from said first accumulating means, a lip on said second accumulating means over which excess water flows, and means to dispose of excess water resulting from said added condensate from said system.

2. A heat transfer system for an enclosure comprising a first heat exchanger within said enclosure, a second heat exchanger arranged below said first heat exchanger, means for circulating water between said heat exchangers, a refrigerating system having an evaporator coil and 3 condenser coil, a sump associated with said refrigerating system, said evaporator coil being in heat transfer relationship with said second heat exchanger, first accumulating means arranged below said first heat exchanger to collect and pass together condensate from said first heat exchanger and said circulated water, second accumulating means arranged above and in fluid communication with said second heat exchanger and receiving said condensate and water from said first accumulating means, a lip on said second accumulating means over which excess water resulting from said added condensate flows into said sump, and means to bring said excess water from said sump into contact with said condenser coil.

3. A heat transfer system for an enclosure comprising a first heat exchanger Within said enclosure, means to circulate air over said first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger arranged below and in fluid communication with said first heat exchanger, pump means for pumping water from said second heat exchanger to said first heat exchanger, a refrigerating system having an evaporator coil and a condenser coil, a sump associated with said refrigerating system, said evaporator coil being disposed in heat transfer relationship with said second heat exchanger, first accumulating means arranged below said first heat exchanger to collect and pass together condensate from said first heat exchanger and said water, second accumulating means arranged in fluid communication with said second heat exchanger and receiving said condensate and water from said first accumulating means, a lip on said second accumulating means over which excess water resulting from said added condensate flows into said sump, and fan means to throw said excess water from said sump on said condenser coil.

4. A heat transfer system for an enclosure comprising a first heat exchanger within said enclosure, a second heat exchanger, means for circulating water between said heat exchangers, means associated with said second heat exchanger for refrigerating said water, first accumulating means arranged below said first heat exchanger to collect condensate falling therefrom, means in fluid communication with said water circulating means for draining said first accumulating means, second accumulating means arranged above and in fluid communication with said second heat exchanger, said second accumulating means receiving both condensate and circulated water, and means within said second accumulating means to dispose of excess water resulting from said added condensate.

5. A heat transfer system for an enclosure comprising a first heat exchanger within said enclosure, means to circulate air over said first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, first fluid conducting means for conducting water from bottom of said second heat exchanger to top of said first heat exchanger, first accumulating means heneath said first heat exchanger to collect condensate falling therefrom, second accumulating means arranged above and in fluid communication with said second heat exchanger, second fluid conducting means for conducting water from bottom of said first heat exchanger to said second accumulating means, pump means connected to flows into said sump, and fan means to throw said excess" saidsecondfiuid conducting means, tube means connected waterfrom said sump on to said condenser.

to said second fluid conducting means for removing said i condensate from said first accumulating means, a refrig- Rflfel'ellces Cltedm the file of thls Patent crating system having an evaporator and a condenser, a 5 UNITED STATEs PATENTS sump associatedwith said refrigerating system, said evaporator in heat transfer relationship with said second heat {a i exchanger, a-hp on said second accumulating means over 2,728,206 Newton 1955 which excess liquid resulting from said added condensate 

